Neutrogena Makeup Towelettes Recall Lawsuit | 2026 Latest Updates

Kenvue Brands LLC, maker of Neutrogena, started a voluntary recall of Neutrogena Makeup Remover Ultra-Soft wipes on September 19, 2025. The FDA classified it as Class II on October 3, 2025. The FDA now lists the recall as Terminated. The recall covers one lot, LOT 1835U6325A, distributed to four states. During an internal investigation, a test of the product came back positive for Pluralibacter gergoviae bacteria. The recall record gives no instructions to consumers. If a cosmetic causes a reaction, FDA guidance says to stop using it and contact your healthcare provider. Problems can also be reported to the FDA through MedWatch.

Latest Neutrogena Makeup Towelettes Recall Updates

February 27, 2026: FDA Lists the Recall as Terminated

The FDA lists the Neutrogena makeup wipes recall as terminated in the FDA Enforcement Report [1]. The record shows the status Terminated and a termination date of February 27, 2026. The record names Kenvue Brands LLC as the recalling firm and carries no update history. It also shows that no press release was issued for this recall.

October 3, 2025: FDA Classifies the Recall as Class II

The FDA classified the recall as Class II under recall number C-0001-2026, per the same record. Class II is one of three classes the FDA uses for recalls [2]. The record lists the product type as cosmetics.

September 19, 2025: Kenvue Brands Starts the Voluntary Recall

Kenvue Brands LLC began a voluntary recall of one lot, LOT 1835U6325A, per the same record. The wipes were the 50 ct size. Kenvue’s own website calls the company the maker of Neutrogena.

What Is Pluralibacter Gergoviae?

According to a 2026 systematic review in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Pluralibacter gergoviae is a gram-negative bacillus in the Enterobacteriaceae family [3]. The review says it is rarely associated with human infections. The review says its resistance to preservatives and its presence in hospital-use products raise concerns about nosocomial (hospital-acquired) transmission. The FDA record names this organism as the reason for the recall.

Which Neutrogena Makeup Towelettes Are Affected?

One Neutrogena product in one lot is affected, according to the FDA record:

• Product: Neutrogena Makeup Remover Ultra-Soft Cleansing Towelettes, plant-based compostable towelettes in a laminate overwrap
• Size: 50 ct, 25-pack wipes, 12 packages per case
• Lot: LOT 1835U6325A
• Distribution: Texas, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida

Check the lot code on your package against LOT 1835U6325A. The FDA record lists no UPC, no pack-location detail, no retailer, no price and no sale period.

Why Were the Neutrogena Makeup Towelettes Recalled?

The Neutrogena makeup wipes were recalled because an internal investigation found that the product tested positive for Pluralibacter gergoviae. The FDA record labels the reason “Out-of-specification.” The FDA describes a recall as an action by a firm to remove a product from the market. Recalls may be conducted on a firm’s own initiative, by FDA request, or by FDA order.

Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses

The FDA record states no figure for illnesses or injuries, because it has no field for them. A report of illness is not proof that the product caused it. The 2026 systematic review looked at hospital cases, not wipe users. It identified 196 patients with Pluralibacter gergoviae infections in 34 studies. Of these infections, 66% were healthcare-associated. Bloodstream infections were the most common, followed by periodontitis and urinary tract infections. NBC Select reported that people with weakened immune systems can be particularly at risk [4]. NBC Select said, according to a study in the Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, exposure can lead to respiratory distress, urinary tract infections, eye infections, sepsis and more. The recall record ties none of these to the recalled wipes.

What Should Consumers Do?

The recall record has no instructions, so these steps combine FDA guidance for any cosmetic with a reporter’s suggestion:

1. Check your package to see whether your wipes are in the recalled lot.
2. Consider stopping use and throwing the wipes away. NBC Select suggested this given the recall.
3. After using the wipes, watch for symptoms such as a rash, redness, a burn or signs of infection. If you have any, stop using the product and contact your healthcare provider, as FDA cosmetic guidance advises [5].
4. Report the problem to the FDA through the MedWatch online form. You can also call 1-888-SAFEFOOD (1-888-723-3366) and select Option 4.
5. Call the Neutrogena consumer line at 1-800-582-4048, Monday to Friday, 9AM to 5:30PM EST, about product complaints or issues, as the Neutrogena contact page lists [6].

Legal Options

A recall does not automatically establish liability or eligibility for compensation. As of September 29, 2026, no federal lawsuit over this recall was found on CourtListener, and state courts were not searched. No MDL has been formed for the recalled wipes, according to the JPML pending MDL report [7]. The only Neutrogena towelette case found is Garland v. Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc., which is closed [8]. That case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. The complaint concerns “plant-based” labeling claims, not bacteria [9].

Filing Deadlines

Legal deadlines for injury claims come from state law. They depend on where you live, and on when the illness or injury happened and was diagnosed. A missed deadline can end a claim, even one with strong facts, so it is wise to check with a lawyer promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is There a Class Action over the Neutrogena Makeup Towelettes Recall?

No federal class action over the Neutrogena makeup towelettes recall has been found, and no MDL exists for the wipes. The JPML pending MDL report lists 166 MDLs, and none of their captions names Neutrogena wipes or towelettes.

Was There a Lawsuit over Neutrogena Towelette Plant-Based Claims?

Yes, there was a lawsuit over Neutrogena towelette plant-based claims, filed October 7, 2024 as docket 3:24-cv-01795. The Garland complaint alleged that 13 of 15 ingredients were synthetic. The docket lists it as terminated December 26, 2024.

What Are the Symptoms of a Reaction to Recalled Neutrogena Wipes?

Symptoms of a reaction to recalled Neutrogena wipes are not listed in the recall record. General FDA cosmetic guidance also names hair loss, headache, infection, illness or any other unexpected reaction, whether or not it required medical treatment.

What Does Class II Mean for the Neutrogena Makeup Wipes Recall?

A Class II designation for the Neutrogena makeup wipes recall means, in FDA’s words, use may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences. It also covers cases where serious consequences are remote. Class I is most serious and Class III the least.

How Many Cases of Neutrogena Makeup Wipes Were Recalled?

The Neutrogena makeup wipes recall covered 1,312 cases of the one recalled lot, according to the FDA record. Each case holds 12 packages, as the product description in the record states.

Who Were the Patients in the 2026 Review of P. Gergoviae Infections?

The patients in the 2026 review of P. gergoviae infections were mostly in intensive care units (74%), especially neonatal units (70%). Mortality occurred in 11% of cases. The authors cite impact on vulnerable populations.

References

1. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/ires/index.cfm?Event=97602
2. https://www.fda.gov/safety/industry-guidance-recalls/recalls-background-and-definitions
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41549661/
4. https://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/neutrogena-makeup-wipes-recall-2025-rcna239204
5. https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-compliance-enforcement/how-report-cosmetic-product-related-complaint
6. https://www.neutrogena.com/contact/contact
7. https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/Pending_MDL_Dockets_By_MDL_Number-September-1-2026.pdf
8. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69235248/garland-v-johnson-johnson-consumer-inc/
9. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.casd.795239/gov.uscourts.casd.795239.1.0.pdf